CREATION.

BOOK

IV.

THE ARGUMENT

THE introduction. No man happy, that has not conquered the fears of death. The inability of the Epicurean scheme to accomplish that end. Religion only capable of fubduing those fears. The hypothefis of Epicurus concerning the formation of the universe fhewn to be abfurd. I. In a more general· furvey of the parts of the univerfe. II. By a more clofe and ftrict examination of his fcheme. The principle of motion not accounted for by that scheme; nor the determination of it one way. Pondus, gravity, innate mobility, words without a meaning. Descent of atoms; upwards and downwards, a middle or centre abfurdly afferted by Epicurus in infinite fpace. His hypothefis not to be fupported, whether his matter be fuppofed finite or infinite. His ridiculous affertion relating to the diurnal and annual · motion of the fun. The impoffibility of forming the world by the cafual concourfe of atoms. They could never meet if they noved with equal fpeed. Primitive atoms, being the fmalleft parts of matter, would move more slowly than bodies of greater bulk, which have more gravity; yet these are abfurdly fuppofed to move the swifteft. His affertion, that fome primitive atoms have a direct, and others an inclining motion,. implies

implies a contradiction. Lucretius's explanation of this inclining motion of fome firft atomis not intelligible The inexplicable difficulty of ftopping the atoms in their flight, and caufing them to fettle in a formed world. The ponderous earth not to be fuftained in liquid air. The Epicurean formation of the heavens very ridiculous. No account given by the Epicureans how the fun and ftars are upheld in fluid æther. Their idle account of the formation of the air. The variety of figure and fize given by Epicurus to his atoms, a convincing proof of wildom and defign. Another proof is the difproportion of the moift and drv atoms in the formation of the earth. His ludicrous and childish account of the formation of the hollow for the fea. No account given by Epicurus, or his followers, of the motion of the heavenly orbs, particularly of the fun.

ARUS, we grant, no man is bleft, but he

CAR

[free.

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Whofe mind from anxious thoughts of death is Let laurel wreaths the victor's brows adorn, Sublime through gazing throngs in triumph borne; Let acclamations ring around the skies, While curling clouds of balmy incense rise ; Let fpoils immenfe, let trophies gain'd in war, And conquer'd kings, attend his rolling car; If dread of death fill unfubdued remains, And fecret o'er the vanquifh'd victor reigns, Th' illuftrious flave in endless thraldom bears A heavier chain than his led captive wears.

With swifteft wing the fears of future fate Elude the guards, and pafs the palace-gate;

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Traverfe

Traverse the lofty rooms, and uncontrol'd

Fly hovering round the painted roofs, and bold
To the rich arras cling, and perch on bust of gold;
Familiar horrors haunt the monarch's head,
And thoughts ill-boding from the downy bed
Chace gentle fleep; black cares the foul infeft,
And broider'd ftars adorn a troubled breast;
In vain they afk the charming lyre, in vain
The flatterer's fweeter voice, to lull their pain;
Riot and wine but for a moment please;
Delights they oft' enjoy, but never ease.

What are diftinction, honour, wealth, and ftate,
The pomp of courts, the triumphs of the great;
The numerous troops, that envy'd thrones fecure,
And fplendid enfigns of imperial power?
What the high palace, rear'd with vaft expence,
Unrival'd art, and luxury immenfe,

With statues grac'd by ancient Greece supply'd,
With more than Perfian wealth, and Tyrian pride?
What are the foods of all delicious kinds,

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Which now the huntsman, now the fowler, finds;
The richest wines, which Gallia's happy field,.
Which Tufcan hills, or thine, Iberia, yield?
Nature deprav'd abundance does pursue ;
Her first and pure demands are cheap and few.
What health promotes, and gives unenvy'd peace,
Is all expencelefs, and procur'd with ease.
Behold the fhepherd, see th' industrious swain,
Who ploughs the field, or reaps the ripen'd grain,
How mean, and yet how tafteful is their fare!
How sweet their fleep! their fouls how free from care!

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They

They drink the ftreaming cryftal, and efcape:
Th' inflaming juices of the purple grape;
And, to protect their limbs from rigorous air,
Garments, their own domeftic work, they wear:
Yet thoughts of death their lonely cots moleft,
Affright the hind, and break the labourer's reft.

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Since these reflections on approaching fate
Diftruft and ill-prefaging care create;
'Tis clear we strive for happiness in vain,.
While fears of death within infulting reign.

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But then Lucretian wits abfurdly frame,
To fink thofe inbred fears, their impious scheme..
To chace the horrors of a confcious mind,
They defperate means and wild expedients find;
The hardy rebels aiming to appease

Their fierce remorfe, and dream a while at cafe,
Of crying guilt th' avenging power difown,
And pull their high. Creator from his throne;
That done, they mock the threats of future pain,
As monftrous fictions of the poet's brain.

Thy force alone, Religion! Death difarms,
Breaks all his darts, and every viper charms;
Soften'd by thee, the grifly form appears
No more the horrid object of our fears;

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We undifmay'd this awful power obey,

That guides us through the fafe, though gloomy way, Which leads to life, and to the bleft abode,

Where ravish'd minds enjoy, what here they own'd, a Regard, ye fages of Lucretian race,

Nature's rich drefs, behold her lovely face.

[God.

75 Look.

Look all around, terreftrial realms furvey,
The ifles, the rivers, and the fpacious fea;
Obferve the air, view with attentive eyes
The glorious concave of the vaulted skies;

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Could these from cafual hits, from tumult thofe, arife?
Can rule and beauty from diftraction grow?
Can fymmetry from wild confufion flow?
When atoms in th' unmeafur'd space did rove,
And in the dark for doubtful empire ftrove;
Did intervening Chance the feuds compofe,
Establish friendship, and difarm the foes?
Did this the ancient dark fome horrors chace,
Diftinction give, and spread celestial grace
O'er the black diftricts of the empty space ?
Could atoms, which, with undirected 'flight,
Roam'd through the void, and rang'd the realms of
Of reafon deftitute, without intent,

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[night,

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Depriv'd of choice, and mindlefs of event,
'n order march, and to their pofts advance,
Led by no guide, but undefigning Chance?
What did th' entangled particles divide,
And fort the various feeds of things ally'd ?
To make primæval elements, felect
All the fit atoms, and th' unfit reject?
Distinguish hot from cold, and moift from dry,
Range fome to form the earth, and fome the sky?
From the embrace, and gloomy arms, of night,
What freed the glimmering fire, and difengag'd the
light?

Could Chance fuch juft and prudent measures take?
To frame the world, fuch diftribution make?

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